Piling and loading machine



May 8, 1945. H BAR AS 2,375,205

FILING AND LOA bINQ MACHINE Filed April 25, 1944 9 sheets-sheet 1 H. BAR RAS PILING AND LOADING MACHINE May 8,

9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 25, 1944 Inventor May 8, 1945. H. BARRAS FILING AND LOADING MACHINE Filed April 25, 1944 e Sheets-Sheet s Attoeys May 8, 19 5. A I -HIARRA ,315,205

FILING AND LOADING MACHINE Filgd' April 25, 1944 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Inventor Haws/er 5/73/2195,

Q a AttorneyI y H. B Al RRAS 2,375,205

FILING AND LOADING MACHINE Filed April 25, 1944 9 Sheets-Sheet 6' Inventor Hammer 5 14/ 2/2 5,

;/7 By M May 8, 1945 BARRAS 2,375,205

FILING AND LOADING MACHINE Filed April 25, 1944 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 y 1945- H. BARRAS 2,375,205

PILING AND LOAD 1N6 MACHINE Filed April. 25, 1944 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 Inventor fiEEBE/ET fimeens,

y 8, 1945' H. BARRAS 2,375,205

FILING AND LOADING MACHINE Filed April 25, 1944 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 I 11 ventor HIE/235.5727 EAR/ans,

WWW Z5. M518]! I I Patented May 8, 1945 PILING AND LOADING MACHINE Herbert Barras, Baldwin, La. Application April 25,1944, Serial No. 532,622

13 Claims.

This invention relates to a piling and loading machine which, although capable of other uses, is

especially designed to pile and load out sugar cane.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved portable, power-driven machine adapted to be driven onto the can field and up the rows of cut cane for pushing the latter into piles and loading the piles of cane into a truck, located alongside the machine and by means of which the cane is transferred 'or transported to the sugar mill or other desired place.

A general object of the present invention is to provide a machine of the above kind by means of which the cut cane may be piled and loaded effectively and expeditiously and by the employment of a minimum amount of manual labor.

A specific object of the present invention is to provide, in a machine of the above kind, an improved piling device whereby the cut sugar cane is automatically pushed into piles as the machine moves forwardly.

. Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved mechanism for loading the piled cane into a truck located alongside the machine,' said mechanism including a swinging boom, a novel form of grapple for picking up the piled cane, hoisting mechanism including hoisting cables passing over guides at the upper end'of the boom and operatively connected to the grapple for closing and elevating and lowerirg and opening the grapple, and a guide bar slidably guided in the boom and connected to the grapple for preventing undue swaying or turning of the grapple during the loading operation so that the grapple will be surely positioned at all times for properly picking up the piled cane and properly depositing it in the receiving truck.

The present invention also contemplates the provision of novel means for controlling the operation of power-driven winding drums forming part of the hoisting mechanism, and novel means for causing swinging of the boom from grappling position to loading position and vice versa.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a machine of the above kind in which the grapple is disposed in front of the machine when in grappling position and laterally of the machine when in loading position, in combination with counterbalancing means automatically positioned to overcome any tendency of. the machine to tilt laterally when the grapple is swung to its lateral loading position.

'The present invention contemplates many other important features and details of construction that will become apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the invention consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the drawings and claimed.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view, mainly in top plan, and partly broken away and in section, showing a forward portion of a piling and loading machine constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 1a is a top plan view of a rear portion of the machine; this view, together with Figure 1, showing nearly the complet machine mainly in top plan.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view, partly broken away and with the upper end of the boom displaced from its true position, and showing the piling scoop, the grapple and adjacent parts.

Figure 2a is a side elevational view of the major rear portion of the machine shown in Figures 1 and la; this view, together with Figure 2, showing substantially the complete machine in side elevation.

Figure 3 is anenlarged perspective view of the grapple.

Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the piling scoop.

Figure 5 is a front elevational view of the special driving unit for reversing the direction of .rotation of the winding drums forming part of the mechanism for swinging the boom and the automatic counterbalancing weight movable in unison therewith.

Figure 6 is a substantially central vertical section through the unit of Figure 5 and drawn on an enlarged scale, the plane of section being substantially on line 66 of Figure 7.

Figure 7 is a vertical section taken substantially on line 1-1 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating details of the drivin connection between the motor of the machin and the rear driving and supporting Wheels thereof.

Figure 9 is a transverse section taken substantially upon the line 9-9 of Figure 1a.

Figure 10 is a side elevational view of the operators seat of the machine and part of the means for operativel connecting th back rest'oi said seat with the main clutch which transmits power from the motor of the machine to the various mechanisms thereof.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary vertical section taken substantially on line of Figure 2c.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the present machine includes a motor vehicle having a bed or platform mounted upon a suitable running gear including front steering and supporting wheels 6v and rear supporting and driving wheels 1. A steering wheel 8 forming Part of a suitable or conventional steering mechanism is provided for turning the wheels 6 to steer the vehicle. This steering wheel 8 is located near the front and adjacent one side of the vehicle, and a seat 9 for the operator of the machine is provided on the platform 5 directly behind the steering wheel 8.

- Mounted on the platform 5 along the other side thereof is a suitable motor or engine E housed within a casing or hood I0. Through the medium of an ordinary automobile transmission II, this engin drives a rearwardly extending shaft i2. A

normally disengaged clutch I4 is provided on shaft l2. Mounted beneath the platform 5 is an ordinary differential gearing |5 whose shaft sections project at opposite sides of the vehicle frame I6 and have their projecting outer ends operatively connected by chain gearings II with the rear wheels I that are mounted on a transverse axle l8 (see Fig. 8). Disposed rearwardly of the differential gearing I5 is an ordinary automobile transmission gearing l9 operatively connected to the differential gearing I5 by a propeller shaft enclosed in a torque tube 20. The driving shaft of transmission I9 is operatively connected by a chain gearing 2| to a part of clutch. |4 that is normally free of shaft l2. -A suitable or conventional remote control means is provided for operating the transmission l9 including a gear selecting and shifting lever 22 provided adjacent the operators seat 9, as indicated in Figure 1. The transmission I9 controls the forward or rearward movement of the machine as well as the speed of forward movement or travel thereof. Transmission II is simply set in a desired speed according to the speed of operation normally required for the various mechanisms to be later described. It has been pointed out that the clutch I4 is of the normally disengaged type having a second part keyed on shaft l2 and adapted to be actuated for engaging withlthe first-mentioned part so as to transmit the drive from shaft I2 to transmission I9. For actuating the clutch I4 to engage it, said clutch is operatively connected to the back rest 23 of the operators seat 9 so that when the operator leans back, engagement of clutch I4 is efiected. For this purpose, the back rest 23 is hinged at 24 to the rear of the seat bottom and for forward and rearward swinging movement, and said back rest is operatively connected by a link 25 with one end of a rock shaft 26 whose other end is operatively connected to the operating lever of the clutch I4. As is the case with a normally disengaged clutch, spring means is provided for disengaging it, and this means acts .to normally position the back rest 23 in a forwardly swung position. Therefore, by simply pressing rearwardly on the back rest 23-,

side members 28 at their lower edges and at the bottoms of the recesses 30 are inclined teeth 3| arranged to pass under and elevate the cane as the scoop moves forwardly, causing the cane to pile up in front of the recesses 30. Additional teeth 32 arranged in suitable spaced relation and projecting forwardly from the lower edge of the rear wall 29 of the scoop may be provided. The

scoop is fixed to the forward ends of arm 33 which converge rearwardly and are rigid with th adjacent end of a rock shaft 34 disposed transversely of the forward end of the platform 5 and journaled in bearings 35. A chain 36 is attached to the back of the scoop and adjustably engageable with a hook 31 carried by the forward end of a bar 38 fixed to and projecting forwardl from the platform 5. Chain'36 thus supports the scoop at the desired elevation and in an inclined position, as shown in Figure 2, so that the forward ends of the teeth 3| and 32 are normally disposed slightly above the surface of the ground. The rock shaft 34 permits the scoop to yield upwardly to compensate for irregularities in the ground surface, and in order to freely permit ready upward yielding of the scoop, the latter is preferably counterbalanced by providing the end of the rock shaft 34 opposite-that to which the scoop is attached, with a rearwardly projecting arm 39 on whichis adjustalble a'weight 40. It

will thus be evident that when the machine is driven forwardly, up the row of cut cane, said cane will be pushed into piles in front of the recesses 33 of the scoop and with the rear portion of the pile elevated on the projecting teeth 3| and the forward end portions of the teeth 32. Thus, it is not necessary to pile the cane manually ahead of the machine.

The present invention further includes an improved grapple by means of which the cut cane o piled in front of the scoop 21 may be compacted and picked up for being loaded into a truck located alongside the machine. As shown more clearly in Figure 1, 2 and 3, this grapple includes a pair of hook-shaped jaws 4| and 42 composed of a plurality of jaw members 43 rigidly connected at 44 in spaced parallel relation and pivoted at corresponding ends upon a transverse shaft 45.

pulley 48 around pulley 49 then inwardly around pulley 50 and then back to the point 52 where it is attached to the intermediate portion of the jaw 4|. The arrangement is. such that when slack is provided in the cable 5|, the jaw 42 may swing away from the jaw 4| {:0 open position. On the the operator may effect engagement of clutch l4 so as to transmit drive from. shaft |2 to transmission |9 to effect travel of the machine.

Disposed at the front of the vehicle near one I side of the latter is a cane loading scoop 21. This other hand, when a pull is exerted on cable 5|, it causes the jaw 42 to swing toward the jaw 4| so as to close the grapple. Another cable 53 is attached at 54 to the jaw 42 nearer its pivoted end, and this cable passes inwardly and upwardly through a guide 55 mounted on the pivoted end portion of jaw 42. The arrangement is such that when slack i provided in cable 53,

- the jaw 42 is permitted to be closed as just described. Also, when a pull is exerted on cable ing effective operation of cable for closing the jaw 42 in cooperation with the simultaneous provision of slack in cable 53.

Mounted on the side of platform 5 adjacent which the. operator's seat 9 is located and at'the front end of said platform, is a horizontal pulley 58 that is rotatable about a vertical axis and has a central rigid post 59 rising therefrom. A brace "68 extends from the upper end of post 59 rearwardly to the platform 5 for bracing the post 59. Pivoted at its lower end upon the pulley 58, as at 6|, is a boom 62. The boom 62 is sustained in the desired inclined position by means of a guy wire 63 connecting the upper'end of the boom with the top of the post 59. The cables 5| and 53 extend upwardly from the grapple and over pulleys at64 in the upper end of the boom, after which said cables pass downwardly and rearwardly over pulleys at 65 on the upper end of post 59. From the pulleys 65, the cables 5| and 53 pass downwardly through the post 59 and around pulleys at 66 mounted at the bottom of the horizontal supporting pulley 58 for the boom 62. From the pulleys 66, the cables 5| and 53 pass laterally and around further pulleys 6I journaled on the under side of platform 5. The cables then pass rearwardly from pulleys 61 to a point near the rear end of the platform where they pass under uitable guides and then upwardly/through slots 68 provided in said platform 5, as shown in Figure 10.. After passing through its slot 68, the cable 5| is wound about and attached to a winding drum 69 of a hoisting mechanism so that when said drum 69 is rotated in one direction, cable 5| will be wound thereon. After passing through its slot 68, the other cable 53 is wound about and attached to another winding drum of the hoisting mechanism indicated at 18, so that when said drum I6 is rotated in the opposite direction, said cable 53 will be wound thereon. The arrangement is such that when cable 5| is wound on drum 69, cable 53 is simultaneously unwound from drum I8 and vice versa;

Thus, by allowing slack in cable 5| and simultaneously allowing slack in cable 53, although sustaining the weight of the grapple by said cable 53, the grapple may be loweredin the open position of Figure 2. The jaw 42 of the grapple i of such width as to just pass between the side members 28 of the scoop 21 with its hooked free end disposed rearwardly of the pile of cane in front of said scoop 21. Slack is then allowed in cable 53 while cable 5| is wound upon drum 69. This causes-the jaw 42 to close or swing toward the jaw 4|, thereby compacting the pile of cane and gripping it in compacted condition. Continued winding of cable 5| will cause elevation of the grapple in closed position, and when the closed load carrying grapple has been elevated sufficiently, it is swung to one side of the machine with the boom 62 by rotating the pulley 58 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 1. When the grapple has reached a position directly over the truck to be loaded, cable 5| is unwound from drum 69 while cable 53 is allowed to simultaneously un 'nd from drum I8, the weight of the grappl and its load being sustained by the cable 5|. The grapple thus lowers while still gripping the load, and after the grapple has lowered sufficiently slack is provided in cable 5| and cable 53 is wound on drum I8 so as to open the grapple by swinging jaw 42 away from jaw 4|. In this way, the load is released and deposited in the truck.

The shaft |2 extendsrearwardly into a gear casing 'II where its rear end is operatively connected by bevel gearing with the adjacent end of a transverse shaft I2 journaled upon the rear end of the platform 5. Drums 69 and I8 are rotatably mounted on shaft I2 and are respectively provided with brakes I3 and I4 for restraining rotation thereof. Also, a clutch 15 is provided for clutching drum 69 to shaft I2, while a similar clutch I6 is provided for clutching drum I8 'to shaft I2. A brake pedal I1 is provided in front of the drivers seat 9 and operatively connected to brake I3 for actuating the latter. Another brake pedal I8 is provided in front of the seat 9 and operatively connected to the brake I4 for actuating the latter. A lever I9 is provided for actuating the clutch I5, and another lever 88 is provided for actuating the clutch I6, said levers I9 and 88 being located adjacent the steering wheel 8 and being operatively connected to said clutches, respectively. It is to be noted that the clutches I5 and I6 are of the normally disengaged type and are adapted to be engaged by operation of levers I9 and 88. By this arrangement, either or both of the drums 69 and I8 may be driven in one direction for winding the cables thereon or either or both of said drums may be released from shaft I2 and allowed to turn in the opposite direction for permitting the cables 5| and 53 to unwind therefrom. By selective operation of the brakes and clutches, the cables 5| and 53 may be controlled to close and elevate the grapple or lower and open it at will. 1

In order to steady and prevent swaying of the grapple relative to the boom 62 and to maintain the grapple against turning from its proper rela-- tion to the boom, said grapple carries a slide rod 8| that extends upwardly and slidably projects through a guide sleeve 82 pivoted on a horizontal axis 83 in the boom 62 near the upper end portion of the latter. The lower end of the slide rod 8| is hinged at 84 centrally to the intermediate portion of a U-shaped bail 85 whose ends are pivoted on the shaft 45 of the grapple at the outer sides of the jaws 4| and 42. The pivoted ends of the bail 85 are wide and provided in their end edges with arcuate notches 86 that provide spaced shoulders between which project lugs 87 carried by opposite sides of the jaw 4| near the pivoted end of the latter. The shoulders of the notches 86 andthe lugs 81 permit a comparatively short or limited swinging move ent of the jaw 4| relative to the bail 85 so that closing of the grapple is mainly effected by swinging movement of jaw 42 toward jaw 4|. Separation of the leaves of hinge 84 is yieldingly resisted by spring means at 88 so that an increase in the angularity of ball 85 to slide rod 8| is yieldingly resisted. In this way shock from impact of the grapple with the ground is effectively absorbed. Another shock absorbing spring 89 is provided on the sliderod 8| near its lower end, said spring 89 being arranged to contact the sleeve 82 and absorb shocks incident to elevation of the grapple, at which time the rod 8| slides upwardly through the sleeve 82. It will be seen that the rod 8| and-bail 85 provide the mentioned means for steadying the grapple relative to the boom and to prevent undue swaying of said grapple, particularly sidewise swaying. The proper relation of the grapple to the boom 62 is such that when the grapple is in position to lower for engaging a pile of cut cane in front of the scoop 21, said grapple is disposed with its greatest dimension longitudinally of the machine, or with the jaw 42 at the rear and the jaw M at the front. The grapple must not turn from this position, because when the boom 62 turns about the axis of the pulley B for a distance of 90, the upper end of said boom should be disposed above the body of a truck arranged alongside the side of the machine'at which the boom is mounted, and

the grapple should be positioned to extend transversely of the truck body. With the grapple .thus disposed, it is simply necessary to lower and open it for depositing the pile of cane in a proper position within and longitudinally of the truck body. The manner in. which the grapple is operated and operatively associated with the boom 62 brings this about, and it is only necessary to have one man in the truck to supervise the deposit of the cane in the latter. As only one man is needed to operate the piling and loading machine, it will be evident that a minimum amount of inanual labor is needed to insure successful use of the machine.

A cable 99 passes around the pulley 58 that supports the boom 62, and said cable extends across the front portion of the. platform.5 and around guide pulleys 9|, then rearwardly to small winding drums 92 and 93 mounted on the platform at the outer side of the gear casing 1I. One end of cable 99 is wound on drum 92 in one direction and secured thereto while the other end of cable 99 is wound on drum 93 in the other direction and secured to the latter. Thus, when the drums 92 and 93 are rotated in one direction, an end portion of cable 99 is wound on drum 92 and theother end portion thereof is unwound from drum 93," thereby acting to turn the pulley 58 in a direction to swing the boom 62 to the forwardly directed position of Figures 2 and 2a. On the other hand, rotation of drums 92 and 93 in the opposite direction will cause cable 99 to be wound on drum 93 and unwound from drum 92, thereby turning pulley 58 in a direction to swing the boom 62 to a position wherein saidboom extends upwardly and outwardly beyond the adjacent side of the machine. When in the first-mentioned position, the boom is located so that the grapple is suspended overthe pile of cane in front of the scoop 21 and disposed longitudinally of the machine with the jaw 42 rearmost, as generally shown in Figure 2. When the grapple is lowered, the jaw 42 will pass downwardly between the sides 28 of the scoop 2| so as to engage behind the pile of cane while the jaw 4| is disposed in front of the pile of cane. It will therefore be evident that upon closing the grapple, the pile of cane will be efiectively grasped and compacted therein for being elevated and deposited in a truck located alongside the machine adjacent the side at which the boom is located. It will also be apparent that when the boom is swung to the laterally extending position, the grapple will be disposed transversely of the truck body so that the cane will be deposited in the truck body longitudinally of the latter when the grapple is lowered and opened. This facilitates orderly deposit of the cane in the truck without any separate operation or work. At this time, it may be pointed out that the grapple is illustrated in Figure 2 somewhat forwardly of the position it actually assumes with respect to the scoop 21. Due to limitation of space in the drawings, it was necessary to displace these parts from their true relationship in order to show the structure within the limited space provided for the drawing. The arrangement and desired operation will be understood, however, in view of the dotted line position of the grapple in Figure 2. The yieldable hinge connection at 84, 88 constitutes a sort of yieldable knee action hinge akin to the knee action of a fowl, and it permits forward yielding of the grapple and its bail relative to the slide rod 8| when the grapple is dropped into the dotted line grappling position of Figure 2, thereby absorbing shock incident to striking of the grapple upon the ground.

A reversible driving mechanism is provided for the winding drums 92 and 93, and this driving mechanism or device, which is generally indicated at 94, is mounted upon the gear casing H and is shown in detail in Figures 5 to 7, inclusive. As shown, it consists of a suitable casing having aligned shaft sections 96 and 91 journaled in and extending through opposite sides thereof, the adjacent inner ends of shafts 96 and 91 being operatively connected by means of a planetary gearing. This gearing includes large bevel gears 98 and 99 secured on the inner ends of the shafts 96 and 91, respectively, and bevel pinions I99 arranged between and simultaneously meshing with the gears 98 and 99 and rotatably supported by a spider I9I in which the shafts 96 and 91 are rotatable. Thus far described, the construction is similar to that of a difierential gearing, the difference being that instead of the spider I9I carrying a ring gear, it has a brake drum I92 fixed thereto. Associated with the brake drum I92 is an external contracting brake band I93 normally expanded and released by a spring I94. This spring I94 is provided on a portion of a rod I95 between ears I96 fixed on adjacent ends of the band I93. Also journaled in and extending through the casing 95 and journaled on the rod I95 is a sleeve I91 having a cam-shaped inner end bearing upon the outer face of one of the ears or lugs I96. The outer end of sleeve I91 carries a lever arm I98 adapted to be actuated for turning sleeve I91 so as to force the ears I96 together against the action of the spring I94 to contract or apply the brake band I93 with respect to its drum I92. As soon as the arm I98 is released, the spring I94 will automatically act to expand and release the brake band I93.

Also associated with the brake drum I92 is an internal expanding brake including brake shoes I99 and H9 normally contracted and released by means of helical tension springs I I I. Corresponding ends of the shoes I99 and H9 are pivoted to one end of a cross member II2, as at II 3, said cross member II2 being keyed at II4 to the shaft 91. Pivoted in the other end of cross member H2 is a shaft H5 having a double cam II6 fixed on one end thereof and movable between abutments or rollers II1 mounted on the other corresponding ends of the brake shoes I99 and H9. The arrangement is such that when shaft I I5 is rotated in one direction, cam I I9 acts upon the rollers II1 to expand the brake shoes I99 and H9 so that they are applied with respect to the drum I92. When the shaft H5 is freed, the springs III act to turn the cam H6 and shaft H5 in the opposite direction and to contract the shoes I99 and H9 out of engagement with the drum I92. A lever arm H8 is fixed to the other end of shaft H5 and is provided at its free end with a roller II9 arranged in the path of a cone-shaped cam I29 slidable on the shaft 9?. Cam cone I20 is provided with an operatin yoke or fork I 2| fixed on a rock shaft I22 Journaled in and extending through the front wall of casing 95 slightly below and Just in front of the arm I08. Fixed on the projecting end of shaft I22 is a cam lever I23 arranged to bear upon the adjacent side of the free end portion of lever I08, said cam lever I23 being provided with a laterally projecting arm I24 pivoted at I25 to the upper end of a link I26. Link I26 is operatively connected as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 1a at I2'I to a hand lever I28 located adjacent the steering wheel 8, as shown in Figure 1. The arrangement is such that when the lever I28 is operated to shift link I26 downwardly, cam lever I23 is swung away from lever I so as to allow the external brake band I03 to remain released and to simultaneously rock shaft I 22 in a direction to move cam cone I20 inwardly for actuating arm H8 in the direction in which cam H0 acts to expand the internal brake shoes I09 and H0. This causes the internal brakeshoes to be applied for restraining the drum I02 against rotation independently of cross member II2. In other words, when this is done, power will be transmitted from shaft.

91 directly to shaft 98 at the same speed and in the same direction, spider I0! and drum I02 being caused to rotate with the cross member H2, and the gears 98 and 99 being caused to turn together with the pinions I00 because the latter do not at this time rotate about their respective axes. On the other hand, when the link I28 is actuated so as to be moved upwardly,

the cam cone I20 is moved outwardly to allow the internal brake shoes to be released, and the cam lever I23 simultaneously actuates lever I08 in a direction to contract the brake band I03. This applies the external brake band I03 with respect to the drum I02, thereby restraining the spider IOI against rotation and permitting the cross member M2 to freely turn with shaft 91 relative to the brake drum I02. Under these circumstances, gear 99 is rotated with shaft 91 in one direction, thereby turning pinions I00 and causing rotation of gear 98 in a reverse direction. As the drums 92 and 93 are geared at 96a to the projecting end of shaft 98, it will be apparent that, in this way and by this means, said winding drums 92 and 93 may be reversely driven at will for effecting the swinging of boom 82 into the desired direction. As shown in Figure 9, a chain drive I29 is provided between shaft 12 and shaft 91, and it will of course be understood that lever I28 is normally positioned so that brake band I03 is released and brake shoes I09 and H0 are released so that no motion is transmitted to shaft 96 which carries drums 92 and 93, even though the clutches are engaged for driving the main hoisting drums 69 and I0. Thus, the actuation of hoisting-cables SI and 53 is entirely independent of the actuation of cable 90 which effects swinging of the boom 62.

It will be evident that when the boom 62 is swung from the position of Figure 2a to a position extending upwardly and outwardly at the adjacent side of the machine for transferring a load from the grapple to the receiving truck. considerable weight is present at this side of the machine which might tend to tilt the machine laterally, particularly when operating on an incline or the like. In order to counter-balance the machine automatically to overcome this tendency, a counterweight I30 is provided, together with means for automatically swinging said counterweight I30 outwardly to a position wherein the same extends from the side of the machine opposite that from which the boom 82 extends. For this purpose, the counterweight I30 is carried by a horizontally swinging arm I3I fixed at one end to a'horizontal pulley I32 that ismounted upon a vertical axis I33 at the side of the machine opposite that at which the boom 52 is located, and preferably at the rear of the platform 5. A cable I34 passes around the pulley I32 and extends inwardly around guide pulleys I35. The cable I34 extends forwardly from pulleys I35 and has its opposite ends respectively connected at I36 to different strands or flights of the cable 90, as shown in Figure 1, Thus, when cable 90 is actuated to swing the boom in one direction and to the position of Figure 2a with the grapple suspended in front of the machine, the counterweight I30 will be swung rearwardly and inwardly to the position of Figure 1a, thereby counterbalancing the machine longitudinally. On the other hand, when It will be noted that the teeth 32 of the scoop 21 are so disposed that the members of the jaw 42 will pass between them and between said teeth 32 and the sides 28 of the scoop when the grapple is lowered into grappling position, as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 2. Also, the operative connection between brake band I4 and pedal I8 is indicated by dotted lines at I3I, while that between brake band I3 and pedal 11 is indicated at I 38. Also, the operative connection between clutch I6 and lever is indicated at I39, while that between clutch I5 and lever 19 is indicated at I40. The connections I39 and I40 extend downwardly through slots MI in the platform 5 and then forwardly under the platform to the lower ends of the levers 80 and I9.

In use, the boom 02 is normally positioned to extend forwardly and the grapple is raised to an elevated position and opened, clutches I5 and 16 being disengaged and brake bands I3 and I4 being applied. The transmission II having been set in the desired gear, transmission I9 is operated to place it in the desired gear and the operator leans backwardly on the back rest 23 so as to engage clutch I4. Drive is then transmitted to the rear supporting wheels I so as to cause the machine to move forwardly up the row of cut cane. As the machine moves ahead slowly, the cut cane is pushed ahead in front of the scoop 21 into a pile of sufficient size. Brake bands I3 and I4 are then released sufficiently to allow the drums 69 and III to turn slowly and permit the cables 5I and 53 to unwind thereon, thereby allowing the grapple to lower by gravity with its weight mainly sustained by the cable 53. Thus, as the grapple lowers, it remains open and is held in the longitudinally disposed position of Figure 2. At this time, the sleeve 82 turns and rod 8| lowers by sliding downwardly through sleeve 82 so that the grapple may shift rearwardly as it lowers and the jaw 42 may pass between the sides 28 of the scoop 2T behind the pile of cane. Clutch I5 is then engaged so as to wind cable 5| thereon for closing the grapple to grab and compact the pile of cane and then elevate the closed grapple to the drum 93.

desired height. At this time, the rod 8| slides upwardly through the sleeve 82 and, by reason of its connection with the bail 85, the grapple is sustained in the same relation to the boom 62. Of course. after the grapple is closed, clutch IE is actuated to simultaneously operate drum ID andwind the cable 53 thereon while allowing a slight amount of slack to always remain in said cable 53 while the closed grapple is hoisted. When the grapple has reached the desired height, the clutches I and I5 are disengaged and said brake bands I3 and 14 are tightly applied, thereby holding the grapple in closed condition and in elevated position. The reversing mechanism at 94 is then conditioned by actuation of lever I28 to drive the drums 32 and 93 in the proper direction for actuating cable 90 so that the boom 62 is swung around to its laterally extending loading position, whereupon the lever I28 is set in neutral position so that the drums 92 and 93 areno longer driven. The counterweight I30 and the friction between movable parts of the swinging means for the boom and the counterweight I30- leased so as to allow the loaded grapple to lower with most of the weight sustained by the cable 5| for insuring retention of the grapple in closed position until it reaches the body of the.receiving truck. Brakeband I3 is then 'fully released to allow a slight amount of slack in the cable 5|, whereupon clutch I6 is engaged to wind cable 53 on drumIIl andjcaus'e the grapple toopen, thereby depositing ,thej'l'oadof cane into the body of the receiving vehiclewith the cane disposed longitudinallyfof s'aid?body.; Continued winding of cable 53 on drum-:10 will c'ausethe open grapple to be elevated,.w'hereupon clutch 18 is disengaged and clutch I5 is engagedythereby causing cable 5| to wind on drum 69, if closing of the grapple is desired. However, in normal use, this is not done until after the boom is swung back to receiving position and lowered to grip the next pile of cane.

Obviously, the boom 62 may be swung back to its receiving position wherein it extends upwardly and forwardly in front of the machine by simply conditioning the reversing mechanism 94 so that the drums and 93 are reversely driven for winding cable 90 on drum 92 and unwinding it from While the boom was swung to the laterally extending position, cable I34 was actuated to swing the counterweight I 30 forwardly and outwardly to its counterbalancing position wherein tendency of lateral tilting of the machine is overcome. On the other hand, when the boom is swung to its forwardly extending position, the

act of the operator in leaning forward so as to not press rearwardly on the back rest 23 or interfere with its forward swinging movement. For convenience, the lever I9 may have a thumb control incorporated in the handle thereof for controlling the throttle of the engine E whereby the speed of operation of said engine may be varied at will, a common and elementary expedient in the construction of motor vehicles.

From the foregoing description, it is believed that the construction and operation, as well as the advantages of the present invention, will-be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled-in the art. It will of course be understood that the cycle of operation described with respect to the use of the machine will simply be repeated entirely up the row of cut cane so that the piling and loading operation may be continuously and expeditiously carried out. As soon as one receiving truck has been fully loaded, an-

other may be driven into position for loading. The present machine has been in practical operation for a considerable time and has been found to operate very satisfactorily and efificiently under actual field conditions. By its use, the machine brings about a tremendous saving of time and labor in the piling and loading of sugar cane, it being merely necessary to cut the cane so that it falls transversely of the row, in advance of use of the machine. The invention is of course susceptible of many modifications and changes in details of construction illustrated and described, such as fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

WhatIclaim is:

1. In a cane piling and loading machine, a motor vehicle, a scoop mounted at the front of the vehicle for pushing out cane into a pile upon forward travel of the vehicle, said scoop being open at the top and front, a grapple for picking .up the piled cane including a jaw movable into grappling position between the sides of the scoop, and power-operated hoisting and opening and closing mechanism for the grapple mounted on i the vehicle.

boom 62 extends upwardly and laterally from the machine in position to deposit the load of the grapple in the receiving truck. Of course, when desired or necessary, the forward travel of the machine may be stopped by simply allowing the clutch I4 to disengage and throwing thetransmission I 9 into neutral, release of clutch I4 being permitted by allowing the back rest 23 to move forwardly; The latter is permitted by the mere 2. In a cane piling and loading machine, a motor vehicle, a scoop mounted at the front of the vehicle for pushing cut cane into a pile upon forward travel of the vehicle, said scoop being open at the top and front, a grapple for picking up the piled cane including a jaw movable into grappling position between the sides of the scoop, and power-operated hoisting and opening and closing mechanism for the grapple mounted on the vehiole, said scoop including side members having Y recessed front edges against which the iled cane is adapted to engage so as to leave a space within the scoop behind the piled cane for the passage of said jaw behind said cane in said grappling position.

3. In a cane piling and loading machine, a motor vehicle, a scoop mounted at the front of the vehicle for pushing out cane into a pile upon forward travel of the vehicle, said scoop being open at the top and front, a grapple for picking up the piled cane including a jaw movable into grappling position between the sides of the scoop, and power-operated hoisting and opening and closing mechanism for the grapple mounted on the vehicle, said scoop including side members having recessed front edges against which the piled cane is adapted to engage so as to leave a space within the scoop behind the piled cane for the passage of said jaw behind said cane in said grappling position, said scoop further includin teeth arrangedto engage under and elevate the rear portion of the pile of cane disposed in front of the scoop.

4. In a cane piling and loading machine, a motor vehicle, a scoop mounted at the front of the vehicle for pushing out cane into a pile upon forward travel of the vehicle, said scoop bein open at the top and front, a grapple for picking up the piled cane including a jaw movable into grappling position between the sides of the scoop, and power-operated hoisting and opening and closing mechanism for the grapple mounted on the vehicle, said last-named mechanism including a swinging boom mounted upon the front of the vehicle at one side of the latter and movable to a forwardly inclined grappling position and to a laterally extending discharge position, and means operatively connecting the grapple with the boom for maintaining the grapple in a definite relation to the boom at all times so that said jaw will be located to move between the sides of the scoop when lowered to grappling position.

5. In a cane piling and loading machine, a motor vehicle, a scoop mounted at the front of the vehicle for pushing out cane into a pile upon forward travel of the vehicle, said scoop being open at the top and front, a grapple for picking up the piled cane includin a jaw movable into grappling position between the sides of the scoop, and power-operated hoisting and opening and closing mechanism for the grapple mounted on the vehicle, said last-named mechanism including a swinging boom mounted upon the front of the vehicle at one side of the latter and movable to a forwardly inclined grappling position and to a laterally extending discharge position, and means operatively connecting the grapple with the boom for maintaining the grapple in a definite relation to the boom at all times so that said jaw will be located to move between the sides of the scoop when lowered to grappling position, said last-named means including a guide sleeve pivoted to the boom for turning about a horizontal axis transversely of the boom. and a slide rod projecting from the grapple and slidably extend- Ing through said sleeve.

6. In a cane loading machine, a motor vehicle, a grapple, power-operated hoisting and opening and closing mechanism for the grapple mounted on the vehicle, said mechanism including a boom mounted to swing to a discharging'position extending laterally of the machine, and means for automatically counterbalancing the machine to overcome tendency of the latter to tilt laterally when the boom is swung to said laterally extending position, said last-named means including a counterweight mounted to swing horizontally, and

means operatively connecting the counterweight to the boom, whereby the counterweight is caused to swing outwardly from one side of the machine when the boom is swung to extend laterally of the opposite side of the machine.

7. In a cane piling and loading machine, a motor vehicle, a scoop pivotally mounted the front of the vehicle for vertical yielding movement and in position to push out cane into a pile upon forward travel of the vehicle, a horizontally swinging boom mounted on the front of the vehicle, a grapple mounted on the boom for picking up the piled cane and including a jaw movable into grappling position between the sides of the scoop, when the grapple is lowered at the front of the vehicle power-operated hoisting and opening and closing mechanism for the grapple mounted on the vehicle, and power operated means for horizontally swinging said boom.

8. In a cane pillngand loading machine, a motor vehicle, a scooppivotally mounted at the front of the vehicle for vertical yielding movement and in position to push out cane intoa pilc upon forward travel of the vehicle, a grapple for picking up the piled cane including a jaw movable into grappling position between the sides of the scoop, and power-operated hoisting and opening and closing mechanism for the grapple mounted on the vehicle, the mounting means for the scoop including a horizontal shaft mounted for turning movement across the front of the vehicle and having the scoop rigidly attached to one end th reof, a rearwardly extending arm on the other e d of said shaft, and a counterweight carried by said arm for counterbalancing the weight of the scoop.

9. In a cane loading machine, a motor vehicle, a grapple for picking up piled cane, power-operated hoisting and opening and closing mechanism for the grapple mounted on the vehicle, said mechanism including a swinging boom mounted to turn about a vertical axis, cable means for turning the boom from a forwardly extending grappling position to a laterally extending discharging position and vice versa, power-operated means for actuating said cable means including a reversing gearing, a horizontally swing ing arm carrying a counterweight and mounted on the opposite side of the vehicle from that at which the boom is located, and means operatively connected to the cable means for turning the boom for swinging the counterweight outwardly from the adjacent side of the vehicle so as to counterbalance .the weight of the said mechanism for hoisting and opening and closing the grapple when the boom is swung to discharging position.

10. In a cane loading machine, a motor vehicle,

a grapple for picking up piled cane including a bail, a pair of jaws. pivoted to said bail, cooperating elements carried by the bail and one of the jaws to limit swinging movement between the latter and said hail. the other jaw being freely movable relative to the first-named jaw and said bail, a boom having an elevated pivoted guide, and a slide rod carried by the bail and movable upwardly and downwardly through said guide.

11. Ina cane loading machine, a grapple for picking .up piled cane including pivotal grappling jaws, a bail in substantially fixed relation to one of the jaws, the other jaw being movable independently of the first-named jaw and bail, power-I operated hoisting and opening and closing mech anism for the grapple including a boomjaguide pivotally carried by the boom, a slide rod slidable through said guide of the boom, a hinge connection between the bail and slide rod, and yieldable means resisting an increase in angular relation of the bail to the slide rod about said hinge connection.

12. In a cane loading machine, a grapple for picking up piled cane including pivotal grappling jaws, a bail in'substantially fixed relation to one of the jaws, the-other 'jaw being movable independently of the first-named jaw and ball, poweroperated hoisting and opening and closing mechanism for the'grapple including a boom, a guide pivotally carried by the boom, a slide rod slidable through said guide 0 connection between the b 'l and slide rod, and yieldable means resisting an increase in angular relation of the bail to the slide rod about said hinge connection, the hinge connection between the bail and the slide rod providing a rearwardly yielding knee action between the bail and said slide rod. g

the boom, a hinge a horizontally swinging weighted arm mounted 13. In a. cane loading machine, a motor vehicle, a grapple for picking up piled cane. power-open ated hoisting and opening and closing mechanism for the grapple mounted on the vehicle, said mechanism including a swinging boom mounted to turn about a vertical axis: from a iorwardly projecting grappling position to a laterally projecting discharging position, said boom being mounted at one side of the vehicle near the front of the latter, a counterbalancing device including 10 on the other side oi the vehicle near the rear of the latter, and cable mechanism for automati- HERBERT BARRAS. 

